Little Known Factors Which Cause Infertility
Female infertility - There are numerous reasons for both
male and female infertility, Learn about infertility causes, what tests might
be needed and fertility treatments available to help with getting pregnant.
Despite the number of couples who manage to conceive without
any issues, there are a number of other couples who struggle with infertility.
Around one in 10 couples in the US have problems with infertility, a
significant percentage.
Some of the causes of infertility are well-known by most
people: it is a known fact that women find it harder to conceive as they get
older and that certain health conditions can cause infertility. However, there
are a number of factors which can contribute to infertility, which are less
well known.
Take a look at these 6 factors that cause infertility which
you probably didn’t know about.
1. Untreated STDs
You probably didn’t realize that one of the main causes of
infertility in both men and women is untreated sexually transmitted diseases(STDs). Specifically, chlamydia and gonorrhea are leading causes of
infertility, which can affect both genders. These diseases often go unnoticed
because they can be asymptomatic, particularly for men with chlamydia, or may
manifest only in minor symptoms which are ignored. However, even when symptoms
do not present, these conditions can cause infertility when untreated.
It is important to regularly get tested for STDs if you are
in a risk group. If you suspect you may have an STD, see your doctor for a
test, particularly if you want to try for a baby, but in all cases, it is a
good idea to get tested. If you find you have chlamydia or gonorrhea, the
treatment is relatively straight forward: your doctor will simply prescribe a
course of (specific) antibiotics in most cases.
2. Hormone Imbalance
Hormone imbalances play a significant role in infertility. In
fact, in most cases, hormone issues will be either a contributing factor or the
main reason for infertility. Hormones are vital because they control
essentially every process which happens in our bodies, and reproductive
processes are no exception. In fact, reproductive processes are extremely
complicated, and therefore a number of hormones are involved. This means that
an imbalance in any of these hormones could adversely impact on fertility.
If you suspect that you are suffering from a hormone imbalance,
or if you are struggling with infertility and are not sure why it could be
worth having your hormone levels tested. You can arrange to perform a simple
hormone test at home through a service. This usually involves a saliva test
which you can do yourself, and then you send off to the lab for results. If the
results show a hormone imbalance, take these results to your doctor and discuss
recommended courses of treatment.
3. Smoking
If you smoke cigarettes, you probably already know that it
is having devastating effects on your general health. But did you know it could
also be making you infertile? In men, smoking has been shown to decrease sperm
mobility by up to 13%, which can hinder chances of conceiving. Smoking has also
been shown to impact on hormone levels, which we already know can adversely
affect fertility, as well as damaging sperm in ways that can hinder
fertilization, embryo implantation, and embryo development.
Smoking cigarettes can also affect female fertility. Not
only does smoking during pregnancy leads to abnormal fetal development (as has
been well-publicized), but it can stop you from getting pregnant in the first
place. Smoking can contribute to problems conceiving in a number of ways,
including, through causing damage to the fallopian tubes, changes to the
cervix, damaging egg development, as well as increasing the risk of
miscarriage.
4. Damage to Sperm DNA
In 2012, new research was released which showed a new cause
of infertility which could be responsible for unexplained infertility in up to
80% of couples. The study showed that damage to DNA in sperm can cause
infertility if found in high enough concentrations. Damage to less than 15% is
considered normal and is unlikely to have any effects. However, once that
damage covers 25% or more, this can adversely affect male fertility. The
findings are important because they mean that fertility treatments can be
specifically tailored to couples suffering from this condition.
Read Also: CKD Care Plan
5. Celiac Disease
Celiac is a relatively well-known condition, which involves
an auto-immune reaction to gluten. What most people don’t know, however, is
that celiac may also be related to the incidence of infertility. This is
usually an issue when the disease is undiagnosed and untreated: studies have
found that undiagnosed celiac disease may cause up to 4% of unexplained
infertility cases. The reason for this is still not entirely clear, but may be
linked to intestinal damage or iron deficiency anemia, both symptoms of celiac
disease
.
6. Environmental Toxins
Believe it or not, but the chemicals in our environment may
also be a cause of infertility. There is evidence that environmental toxins
could cause infertility in both men and women. In men, these toxins are
believed to impact on semen quality, making it more difficult to conceive. In
women, toxins in the environment most likely impact on a range of factors
influencing fertility. As part of our modern lifestyles, we are exposed to
toxins through processed foods, contaminated water, as well as chemicals found
in hair and beauty products. Although the evidence is still not clear on the
relationship between environmental toxins and infertility if fertility is a
concern it may be worthwhile avoiding these toxins as much as possible.
The inability to become pregnant is very difficult to deal
with and can impact every aspect of life. Infertility is a common problem today
but it can be overcome with the help of treatments like IVF, IUI, ICSI, and
GIFT. The options that are best depend on one’s personal health condition and
the cause of infertility, For the latest fertility news, tips and updates,
follow Elawoman blog.
Comments
Post a Comment